Darlington Raceway opened in September 1950, making it NASCAR's oldest surviving superspeedway. Unlike the near-perfect ovals at Talladega or Daytona, Darlington's asymmetric layout means the two ends of the track handle completely differently — Turn 1 is tighter, Turn 3 is more open — and the concrete wall is notoriously unforgiving. The distinctive black streak from tire rubber scraped along the outside barrier is known as the "Darlington Stripe," a badge of dishonor that even great drivers collect.
The track hosts two Cup Series races a year, most notably the Goodyear 400 in May and the Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend — one of the oldest races on the calendar. On non-race days, guided tours of the track are available and the NASCAR Hall of Champions museum on site displays championship cars from across the sport's history.
The track is located about 2 miles east of downtown Darlington on Harry Byrd Highway (US-151/401). For race weekend tickets and tour schedules, check the official Darlington Raceway website.